A slump in international trade, geopolitical conflicts and economic uncertainty created a difficult business environment for the largest transportation and logistics providers in 2023.

Demand for global air cargo traffic continues to increase amid ­e-commerce growth and ocean shipping constraints, driving prices higher as carriers and airports seek new efficiencies to maximize capacity.

SF Holding Co., China’s biggest express delivery company, is targeting a second listing in Hong Kong at the end of next month that could raise about $1 billion.

Global goods trade is showing signs of accelerating after last year’s slump, pushing up shipping rates and giving some supply chain managers flashbacks to the demand spike three years ago.

Supply chain resilience is the ability to persist, adapt or transform in the face of change and challenges. To be supply chain resilient, one must prepare and plan ahead.

BERLIN — Germany’s main national railway operator, Deutsche Bahn, on Dec. 19 launched an effort to sell its logistics unit, DB Schenker, as the company concentrates on its core business.

Spot rates for shipping containers jumped by the most in more than two years, a sign that a 16-month slump in ocean freight costs that helped ease the sting of goods inflation is over.

Labor unrest took an unusually heavy toll on ports around the world in 2022, and the outlook for continued economic instability could bring even more upheaval to global supply chains in 2023.

While the worst of the global supply chain snarls brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic now appear to be in the rearview mirror, it’s still not business as usual for international freight.

Describing global supply chains as “volatile” for the last two years is an understatement. Glimmers of hope are emerging, but anxiety grows over whether freight volumes can maintain traction amid high inflation and economic uncertainty.